System and Method for Delivering Media Assets in a Cloud Environment

ABSTRACT

A media delivery system comprises a handheld computing and communication device, a media delivery unit and a user specific media library in a cloud. A data file including metadata of the media assets in the media library is stored in the handheld device. The handheld device and the media delivery unit are connected through a wireless communication link. A user of the handheld device is identified. A user selected media asset may be delivered by the media delivery unit by receiving the media asset through the cloud.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to a media delivery system. Morespecifically, the invention describes a system and method for deliveringmedia assets in a cloud environment.

2. Description of Prior Art

Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storageservices that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical locationand configuration of the system that delivers the services. Cloudcomputing describes a new supplement, consumption, and delivery modelfor IT services based on Internet protocols, and it typically involvesprovisioning of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources. Itis a byproduct and consequence of the ease-of-access to remote computingsites provided by the Internet. Cloud computing providers deliverapplications via the Internet, which are accessed from various personaldevices, while the business software and data are stored on servers at aremote location. Most cloud computing infrastructures consist ofservices delivered through shared data-centers and appearing as a singlepoint of access for consumers' computing needs. Data files can be storedin a cloud that is accessible by a personal device when the device isconnected to the Internet.

Systems and methods for accessing the data, in particularly media assetsstored in the cloud environment are clearly needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a system andmethod for delivering media assets stored in the cloud through differenttypes of media delivery units.

An exemplary media delivery system comprises a handheld computing andcommunication device, such as for example, a smart phone. The systemfurther comprises a user specific media library stored in the cloud. Adata file stored in a file storage system of the handheld deviceincludes metadata of the media assets in the media library. After thehandheld device and a media delivery unit are connected through awireless communication link, the user's identity is determined. A userselects a media asset through a user interface of the handheld device.The metadata of the selected media asset is transmitted to the mediadelivery unit through the wireless link. The media delivery systemconnected to the cloud receives the metadata and retrieves theassociated media asset from the media library and delivers the asset.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsvarious embodiments, and the advantages thereof, reference is now madeto the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary media deliverysystem in a cloud environment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system accordingto the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system accordingto the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References will now be made in detail to a few embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with theparticular embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to the described embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of invention as defined by theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary media deliverysystem in the cloud environment. The exemplary system 100 comprises anetwork or a cloud 102. The term “cloud” and “network” will be usedindifferently in the present disclosure. The cloud 102 may be theInternet. Data files may be stored in a file storage system 106 ofvirtual servers 104 that are generally hosted by third parties, ratherthan being hosted on dedicated servers. Hosting companies operate largedata centers; and users who require their data files to be hosted buy orlease storage capacity. A media library 108 is stored in the filestorage system 106. The media library 108 may comprise a large number ofmedia assets including but not limiting to video, audio, multimedia,text, photo and image files.

The system 100 further comprises a handheld computing and communicationdevice 110. The handheld device 110 may include but not limit to a mediaplayer, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a gameconsole and a digital camera. The handheld device 110 includes ametadata file 112 stored in a file storage system of the handhelddevice. The metadata file 112 includes the metadata of the media assetsin the user specific media library. When the handheld device 110 isconnected to the cloud 102, a program stored in the device 110 controlsan operation that the metadata in the file 112 is synchronized to themedia assets stored in the media library 108. The program may beexecuted in a predetermined frequency. The program may also be executedwhenever there is a change in media assets stored in the media library108. It should be noted that the media assets in the media library 108are not required to be stored in the handheld device 110 although it ispossible that all of or part of the media assets are also stored in thehandheld device 110. The metadata is descriptive for the media assets.The metadata may include titles and authors of the media assets.

The system 100 further comprises one or multiple media delivery units.In an exemplary case, the media delivery system includes but not limitsto a TV terminal 114 including a set top box, a projection system 116including a projector, an audio system 118, a vehicle system 120 and ahotel media system 122. The vehicle system 120 may be an automobilemedia system. The vehicle system 120 may also be an airplane mediasystem. The airplane media system may include a TV terminal in front ofa passenger's seat. The hotel media system 122 may include a TV terminaland a set top box. The media delivery units are connectable exemplarilyto the cloud 102 through wired or wireless broadband connections.

The handheld device 110 and anyone of the media delivery units may beconnected through a wireless communication link 124. The wireless link124 comprises an ad hoc communication link including Bluetooth, ZigBee,WiFi and Near Field Communication (NFC) type of wireless communicationlinks. The wireless communication link 124 may also be an opticalcommunication link that employs visible or invisible light beams.

A user of the media delivery system 100 may select a media asset througha user interface of the handheld device 110. The user interface may be ahierarchical user interface that is based on the metadata of the mediaassets organized in a hierarchical manner The user interface may also bea search engine. Upon the user's selection, the selected metadata istransmitted to the connected media delivery unit through the wirelesscommunication link 124. The media delivery unit receives the metadataand initiates an operation to retrieve the associated media asset fromthe media library 108 in the cloud 102. The media delivery unit deliversthe media asset to the user upon receiving the media asset from thecloud 102.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system 100according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Process 200begins with a step that metadata file 112 and the media library 108 issynchronized in a manner that metadata in the file 112 represents allmedia assets in the media library 108 (202). The step of synchronizationmay be initiated and be controlled by a program stored either in thehandheld device 110 or in the cloud 102. The synchronization may beexecuted in a predetermined frequency according to one implementation.The synchronization may be executed each time after the handheld device110 is connected to the cloud 102. The synchronization may also beexecuted whenever there is a change in the media assets stored in themedia library 108.

The handheld device 110 and a media delivery unit are connected througha wireless communication link 124 (204). In an exemplary case, thehandheld device 110 may be connected to a TV terminal 114 through aBluetooth type of connection. The identity of the user of the handhelddevice 110 is determined (206). Methods of determining the identity of auser is well established in the art. In an exemplary case, upon theconnection, the TV terminal 114 displays a display window requesting theuser to key in a user name and a password. The display window may alsobe displayed on a display screen of the handheld device 110 in analternative implementation.

After the user's identity is determined, the user specific media libraryis accessible by the media delivery unit through the cloud 102. A mediaasset for delivering using the media delivery unit is selected by theuser through the user interface of the handheld device 110 (208). Themetadata is subsequently transmitted to the media delivery unit throughthe wireless link 124 (210). The metadata is received by the mediadelivery unit and the associated media asset in the media library 108 isretrieved by a processor in the media delivery unit (212). The mediaasset is sent to the media delivery unit and is delivered by the mediadelivery unit (214). In the exemplary case, the TV terminal 114 is usedas the media delivery unit. A video asset in the media library 108 isretrieved and is received by the TV terminal 114 and is streamed throughthe terminal subsequently. The set top box may be employed for thedelivering the user selected video asset.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system 100according to the second embodiment. Media delivery units, such as forexample, TV terminals may be installed in public areas such as inairport terminals. A user may employ the TV terminals to deliver videoassets stored in the cloud 102 through the handheld device 110. The usermay need to pay a fee for such a service. The TV terminal may also beinstalled in front of a user's seat in an airplane. The user may use thehandheld device to access video assets stored in the cloud 102 during aflight if the airplane is connected to the cloud 102.

Process 300 begins with a step that metadata file 112 and the medialibrary 108 is synchronized in a manner that metadata in the file 112represents all media assets in the media library 108 (302). The handhelddevice 110 and a media delivery unit are connected through a wirelesscommunication link 124 (304). In an exemplary case, the handheld device110 may be connected to a TV terminal 114 through a Bluetooth type ofconnection. Upon the connection is established, a message is displayedeither on a display screen of the media delivery unit or on a displayscreen of the handheld device 110 requesting the user to pay a fee inorder to use a service of delivering a media asset from the userspecific media library in the cloud 102 (306). The user voluntarilydiscloses his or her identity to the media delivery unit. The identityof the user of the handheld device 110 is determined (308). Methods ofdetermining the identity of a user is well established in the art. In anexemplary case, upon the connection, the TV terminal displays a displaywindow requesting the user to key in a user name and a password. Thedisplay window may also be displayed on a display screen of the handhelddevice 110 in an alternative implementation. The media delivery unitreceives the user's payment through an on-line agent in an exemplarycase (310).

After the user's identity is determined and the payment is received, theuser specific media library is accessible by the media delivery unitthrough the cloud 102. A media asset for delivering using the mediadelivery unit is selected by the user through the user interface of thehandheld device 110 (312). The metadata is subsequently transmitted tothe media delivery unit through the wireless link 124 (314). Themetadata is received by the media delivery unit and the associated mediaasset in the media library 108 is retrieved by a processor in the mediadelivery unit (316). The media asset is sent to the media delivery unitand is delivered by the media delivery unit (318). In the exemplarycase, the TV terminal 114 is used as the media delivery unit. A videoasset in the media library 108 is retrieved and is received by the TVterminal 114 and is streamed through the TV terminal subsequently. Theset top box may be employed for the delivering the user selected videoasset.

1. A media delivering system comprising: (a) a user specific medialibrary including a plurality of media assets stored in a cloud; (b) ahandheld computing and communication device comprising a data fileincluding metadata of said media assets in the user specific medialibrary; (c) a media delivery unit connected to the cloud; (d) awireless communication link that connects said handheld device and saidmedia delivery unit; (e) a means of identifying a user of said handhelddevice; (f) a means of connecting said media delivery unit to said userspecific media library after the user is identified; and (g) a means ofdelivering one of the media assets from said media library, said mediaasset is selected by the user through a user interface of said handhelddevice.
 2. The media delivery system as recited in claim 1, wherein saidmedia delivery unit further comprising a television system.
 3. The mediadelivery system as recited in claim 2, wherein said television systemfurther comprising a set top box.
 4. The media delivery system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said media delivery unit further comprisinga projection system.
 5. The media delivery system as recited in claim 1,wherein said media delivery unit further comprising an audio system. 6.The media delivery system as recited in claim 5, wherein said audiosystem further comprising a home HiFi audio system.
 7. The mediadelivery system as recited in claim 1, wherein said media delivery unitfurther comprising a vehicle media system.
 8. The media delivery systemas recited in claim 7, wherein said vehicle media system furthercomprising an automobile media system.
 9. The media delivery system asrecited in claim 7, wherein said vehicle media system further comprisingan airplane media system.
 10. The media delivery system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said media delivery unit further comprising a hotelmedia system including a television system.
 11. The media deliverysystem as recited in claim 1, wherein said handheld computing andcommunication device further comprising one or a combination offollowing devices: (a) a media player; (b) a mobile phone; (c) a tabletcomputer; (d) a laptop computer; (e) a game console; and (f) a digitalcamera.
 12. The media delivery system as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid wireless communication link conforms to one or a combination offollowing standards: (a) Wi-Fi; (b) Bluetooth; (c) ZigBee; and (d) NearField Communication (NFC).
 13. The system as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid wireless communication link further comprising a visible orinvisible light beam communication link.
 14. A method of delivering amedia asset to a user through a media delivery system comprising a userspecific media library stored in a cloud, a handheld computing andcommunication device and a media delivery unit connected the cloud, themethod comprising: (a) connecting said media livery unit and saidhandheld computing and communication device through a wirelesscommunication link; (b) identifying by said media delivery unit the userof said system by receiving an identification signal from said handhelddevice; (c) establishing a data file by a processor of said handhelddevice, said data file further including metadata representing mediaassets stored in said media library in the cloud; (d) selecting a mediaasset by a user through a user interface of said handheld device, saiduser interface displaying a subset of said metadata on a display screenof said handheld device; (e) transmitting the selected metadata to saidmedia delivery unit through the wireless communication link; (f)receiving the metadata by said media delivery unit; and (g) retrievingthe media asset represented by the metadata from said user specificmedia library; and (h) delivering the media asset through said mediadelivery unit.
 15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said stepof indentifying a user further comprising displaying on a display screenof said media delivery unit or on a display screen of said handhelddevice a request for the user to key in a user name and a password. 16.The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method furthercomprising modifying the data file to reflect a change in the mediaassets stored in said user specific media library.
 17. A method ofdelivering a media asset to a user through a media delivery systemcomprising a user specific media library stored in a cloud, a handheldcomputing and communication device and a media delivery unit connectedthe cloud, the method comprising: (a) connecting said media deliveryunit and said handheld device through a wireless communication link; (b)determining the user's identity by said media delivery unit; (c)displaying a message requesting the user to pay for a service ofdelivering the media asset; (d) paying for the service by the user byusing of said handheld device; (e) selecting a media asset by a userthrough a user interface of said handheld device, said user interfacedisplaying a subset of said metadata on a display screen of saidhandheld device, wherein said metadata representing the media assetsstored in said user specific media library in the cloud; (f)transmitting the selected metadata to said media delivery unit throughthe wireless communication link; (g) receiving the metadata by saidmedia delivery unit; (h) retrieving the media asset represented by themetadata from said user specific media library; and (i) delivering themedia asset through said media delivery unit.
 18. The method as recitedin claim 17, wherein said method of paying for the service furthercomprising paying for the service by the user through an on-line agent.19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said media delivery unitfurther comprising a television terminal in a public area.
 20. Themethod as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprisingmodifying the data file to reflect a change in the media assets storedin said user specific media library.